A:N: A bit of a shorter chapter this one, but by no means is it any less an important chapter!

A few months followed after Albus attended the Quidditch match with Rose and his now new-found friend Scorpius Malfoy.

Albus admitted it was awkward at first and Rose had been against attending the match with a group of Slytherins. This did not last long; as Rose and Scorpius began talking about previous Quidditch games, favourite players, favourite teams and different techniques, the pair got along just fine and Scorpius became a regular face at the Gryffindor table for meals, sometimes sitting with Rose and her friends before Albus even got down to the Great Hall. It was nice to have a friend other than Rose.

What was better was that Scorpius didn't find it weird that Albus spoke to Severus's portrait, in fact, Scorpius went down to meet Severus once:

"Are you sure he won't mind?" Scorpius whispered as the two boys headed down to the corridor. "Like, I won't be interrupting anything, will I?"

"No," Albus promised, "it'll be fine."

It had been a few months since Albus and Scorpius attended the Quidditch match together and by this point, Albus had filled Severus in on his friendship with Scorpius.

"Hi, Severus," Albus greeted when the two boys arrived at the portrait, "I brought a friend."

"Hello, Sir," Scorpius greeted nervously, "I'm Scorpius." Severus studied the blonde who stood beside the brunette. He looked at the portrait meekly, half-expecting Severus to jump out the portrait and yell at him. "My Dad's told me a lot about you."

"Has he now?" Severus mused.

"Uh, yeah."

"How honoured I am that the Draco Malfoy still talks about me at the dinner table. Dumbledore will find it quite amusing."

Scorpius shifted on the spot, clearly uncomfortable. It was then that Albus cut in: "Slytherin won the House Cup! We beat Ravenclaw by sixty points, but we lost the Quidditch tournament, didn't we, Scorpius?"

"Yeah," Scorpius said quickly, "we came last."

"Gryffindor has a really good team this year. Rose was telling us she wants to try out for chaser next year when Randall leaves."

"Yeah!" Interjected Scorpius. "I like watching it, but I could never play; I'm scared of heights."

"I'm awful at flying," Albus agreed, "nothing like Mum and Dad and James and the rest of my family."

"There are greater accomplishments in life than being able to fly a broomstick," Severus pointed out, "academia is held in higher regard than catching a snitch."

"Exactly," Scorpius beamed and turned to Albus, "I say this all the time! When we apply for jobs when we've left Hogwarts, no one's going to care if we were on the Quidditch team."

"Except employers do look at extra-curriculars," Severus pointed out.

Scorpius frowned. "Yeah... I suppose so. Oh well! We have six years yet!"

"Exactly," Albus agreed.

"I need to go and pack," Scorpius declared, "I'll see you later, Al. It was nice to meet you, Sir."

Severus didn't reply to Scorpius, but stared at the blonde with a sullen expression. Albus bid farewell to his friend and waved him off as he walked down the corridor, Albus turned to Severus: "He wanted to meet you."

"He is very unlike his father."

"Told you so."

"He actually seems to be quite normal. He must have inherited that from his mother."

"He's really nice," Albus stated.

"I am sure."

Albus bit his lip. "I go home tomorrow."

"I am fully aware; every corridor I go down there seems to be merry teenagers celebrating another year of Hogwarts being over."

"It's been a good year; I got to meet you."

"I have had better."

Albus rolled his eyes. "You'll miss me when I'm gone over Summer."

"Will I?"

"I'll miss you," the young boy stated, "I would write... But I don't think you can receive letters."

"No," Severus confirmed.

"I'll just have to write one long letter and read it to you when I'm back. We're going to Antigua to watch the Quidditch match next week for James's birthday; my Mum got us tickets and James really wants to go because it's against Bulgaria. He still can't believe a team like Antigua is getting to play against Bulgaria."

"Oh to be alive once more."

"I'll take photographs and show you."

"I will wait with baited breath for your return."

"Won't you be lonely in the castle with no one to talk to?"

"I'm not the only portrait around here," he reminded.

"True, but real people."

"I'm certain the Headmaster will stop by four or five times a week to pester Dumbledore and I with incessant questions concerning the school and the Ministry, as well as the Minister."

"He's coming round for dinner when we get back."

"I believe he is resigning from politics when his term is up."

"Yeah," Albus agreed, "James overheard him talking with Dad, Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione at Christmas, he wants Aunt Hermione to run for it."

"The first Muggleborn Minister," Severus noted.

"It doesn't matter that she's Muggleborn; she'll do great if she becomes the Minister."

"I'm certain she'll excel herself."

"She will, and how cool will it be if my Aunt is the Minister for Magic?"

"I'm sure you'll be delighted."

"I will. I wish I could vote."

"Don't wish your life away."

"Yeah," Albus admitted, "sorry."

"What have I told you about apologising when it's not necessary: it makes you look weak."

"What if I do something wrong? Shouldn't I say sorry then?"

"Only if it was a mistake or you deeply regret it. Other than that you should never apologise for your behaviour."

"Great words of wisdom."

"I have my moments," Severus admitted.

Albus gave him a sheepish smile. "Tonight's my last night in the castle."

"I'm fully aware."

There was a pause. "I don't want to go home."

"I'll regret asking this: why?"

"My family hate me."

"I thought we discussed this last week when you were worrying about going home: your family do not hate you."

"It doesn't help I'm friends with Scorpius now. I'm terrified that Grandad will find out."

"Rose is friends with Scorpius."

"Yeah, but that's different. She's the favourite."

"I thought Lily was the favourite."

"She is - but - I don't know... If Lily was in Slytherin, they'd be understanding and support her, but because I'm in Slytherin I get teased about it. Fred and Roxanne turned my scarf into a real life snake last month - did I tell you that?"

"They're your cousins," Severus said tiresomely, "they're only teasing you."

"It doesn't feel like that."

"Albus, there are worse problems in the world than being in Slytherin and your cousins teasing you."

"I suppose. But it's not nice. We're all having a welcome back feast at Grandma and Grandad's tomorrow, it's going to be so weird."

"You'll survive."

Albus frowned. "Yeah... I'll miss being able to talk to you about stuff like this; I feel like you're the only one who understands."

"That is due to your incessant worrying about it and telling me every detail. You're extremely fortunate I am not a portrait who gossips."

"I know. I feel like I can trust you - we do share the same name, after all."

"You have your father to thank for that."

"I do," Albus agreed, "I'm glad he did it, otherwise I wouldn't have met you. Plus you've really helped me with Potions this year!"

"I have my uses."

"You have a lot of uses. I'll come back tomorrow morning before breakfast to say goodbye, will you still be here?"

"It's highly likely."

"Excellent. Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Severus. Have a nice night."

"Are you going to join in with your House's end-of-term party?"

"Nah. Not my thing. Right, good night, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Albus," Severus paused slightly, "I would just like to say..." The Potion Master trailed off.

"Yes?" Albus urged.

"...Have a nice summer."

"Oh," Albus said, deflated, "you too."